July 9, 1956 – Broadcasting personality Dick Clark makes his first appearance as host of the show American Bandstand. Clark hosted the show through 1988 and is also known for hosting ABC’s New Year’s Eve TV broadcast from 1974-75 through 2005-06.
July 11, 1804 – Vice President Aaron Burr fatally shoots his long-time political antagonist Alexander Hamilton during a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey.
July 13, 1787 – Congress enacts the Northwest Ordinance establishing procedures for transforming territories into states to be considered equal to the original 13 (Illinois becomes one such state in 1818).
July 14, 1789 – The fall of the Bastille Prison occurs at the beginning of the French Revolution. This will later be celebrated as a day of French unification over the monarchy.